"Doug" wrote in message
...
I'm getting conflicting stories regarding replacing my heat pump.

It's 20 years old and it's time to send it off into that great freon
cloud in the sky. It services a 1000SF rental condo.

Anyway, one guy has said he can replace the outside unit with a 10 SEER
unit that won't neccesitate replacing the inside air handler. He wanted
something like $2600.

Another guy has said the the code now requires a 13 SEER unit and this
will mean replacing the inside air handler. He also mentioned the
phasing out of the old freon which won't be available in a few years. He
will get me a price in a few days as he said Carrier is backed up
getting quotes to him.

I have a third guy due to look at it next week.

I know all about the SEER ratings but can someone clue me in on the
issue of inside unit replacement regarding the 10 vs. the 13? and any
other matters I should be concerned about?


The inside unit and outside unit should be matched to get the best seer
rating. There is also a "cheat factor" as I call it in the way some of the
seer ratings are obtained. Varitable speed fans is one method of getting the
seer rating up. Sort of like the car milage sitckers show. If you don't
care about getting the maximum seer but just want a functioning system then
the outside unit can be replaced if they can find one that will work with
it.

There is also a tax credit that comes with the higher seer rated units.